SynthModules

A couple of thoughts, all of which I've implemented because I don't 
like the 1/8" format:

* Stooge Larry will make you 1/8" to 1/4" cables.  His cables and 
connectors are wonderful.  This is an optimal soultion. (Truth be 
told, I don't have any of these yet, but I will when he does the next 
cable run).

* John Blacet has a $12.00 frame that adapts Frac modules to MOTM 
size.  The frame also includes pilot holes for 8 x 1/4" jacks: you 
wire these from the module's existing 1/8" jacks.  I did this for my 
Noise Ring and it works very well.  You have either 1/8" or 1/4" 
jacks available as needed.  Note that for the Noise Ring a little 
shaving was needed to get the pots to fit behind the frame.  Also the 
frame is just slightly too wide, but can be shaved with a little 
Dremel action.

* Paul Schreiber has an adpater panel in MOTM format that includes 8 
each of 1/4", 1/8", and Banana jacks.

* Stooge panels rock.  I've converted several Blacet modules to MOTM 
and though it takes a little DIY skill, the end results are 
terrific.  NOTHING cooler than an MOTM-ized Time Machine!

* Finally, Schaeffer will create a nice panel for you of your own 
design. A 1U MOTM panel could probably fit 12 1/4" and 12 1/8" if you 
want to roll your own adapter panel.

Mike

--- In SynthModules@yahoogroups.com, "john mahoney" <jmahoney@g...> 
wrote:
> Longish ramble follows. I welcome suggestions for dealing with 
multiple
> cable & physical formats. Thanks. Now on with my post:
> 
> 
> I was going to convert my PSIM to the MOTM format with a Stooge 
panel. Now
> I'm not so sure. I am definitely buying a Stooge panel, but I may 
use it as
> Brice describes, below.  Let me back up a little...
> 
> I had no Frac Rack gear until I bought a PSIM-1 plus a Blacet PS 
and rack
> cage to house it. I have plenty of gear with 1/4" jacks, though, so 
I am
> reluctant to get into the 1/8" format too heavily.
> 
> Plan A was to use the PSIM with some 1/4-to-1/8 adapters. This 
looks cheesy,
> seems fragile, and it doesn't address the issue of getting *more* 
1/8" gear.
> 
> Plan B was to join the Stooges, reformatting everything into MOTM 
format.
> Now, I'm having second thoughts, since there is a lot of cool Frac 
Rack gear
> and I'm not sure that I want to reformat it all! (There is Wiard 
1200 and
> Blacet, plus Doepfer, which also uses 1/8" connectors although the 
EuroRack
> is a little different.) The 1/8" stuff is so nice and compact, too. 
So...
> 
> I've been working on Plan C, which involves living with both 1/4 
and1/8,
> after all.
> 
> Plan C, Version 1, has me installing the Frac Rack cage *and* MOTM 
rack
> rails *and* a custom patch bay into one rack enclosure. The patch 
bay will
> be mounted between the rows of Frac and MOTM gear, and will feature 
both 1/8
> and 1/4 jacks. It will also provide cascaded mults for both jack 
sizes. (To
> make the patch bay, I intend to modify a commercial unit, replacing 
some
> 1/4" jacks with 1/8" ones -- will this be a problem due to 
oversized holes?
> I'm not too far into the planning!)
> 
> What about the Stooge panel? That's a special case. My idea is to 
mount it
> directly above or below the PSIM itself, and use it as a breakout 
box with
> 1/4" jacks and input attenuators (see
> http://www.wiseguysynth.com/larry/panel/gif/psim7.gif). My intent 
is to wire
> a custom connector behind each front panel; a custom cable will 
connect the
> MOTM panel to the PSIM.
> 
> I'm also looking into using Peter Grenader's Gizmotron
> (http://www.buzzclick-music.com/gizmotron.html) to make 
attenuator/inverters
> for the PSIM outputs. But that's another module...
> --
> john
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Brice D. Hornback" <synthmodules@s...>
> 
> 
> > No problem.  I can add that as an add-on module going forward.  
The only
> > problem is... the panel will cost ten times as much as the parts 
that go
> > behind it.  SO... if there IS interest in this... I don't want any
> "sticker
> > shock" when the time comes.
> >
> > How much are you folks willing to pay for a 1U Frac-Rack module 
with four
> > pots and a couple wires running over to your PSIM-1?  (You 
connect them to
> > the switch tab on the four input jacks so they are normalized to 
the
> PSIM-1
> > analog inputs and the power comes from the voltage reference test 
point.)
> A
> > little soldering required (photos provided).  OR... I could do it 
as a
> > stand-alone module with it's own power connector, four pots, and 
four
> jacks.
> > Hmmm... this sounds like another poll.
> >
> > Graduations on the faceplate almost double the cost since my 
panels are
> CNC
> > engraved and not silkscreened... and in this case wouldn't be 
necessary
> > anyway.  Why?  Stepped voltages are easy... "Quantize" them going 
into the
> > PSIM-1.  How many steps do you want?  1,2,10,128, or 256?  No 
problem...
> all
> > you have to do is write the code for it.  (See... a scale of 1 to 
10 on
> the
> > dial just wouldn't make sense.)  Now, if we're talking digital 
encoders
> and
> > an LCD display... nah... let's not talk about that one just yet.